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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Rugby 2005
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 15 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 17 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: HB Studios
Genre(s): Sports, Rugby
Players: 4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: March 8, 2005
Summary
EA Sports Rugby 2005 incorporates all the major Rugby teams, players, and tournaments, including the Tri-Nations, Super 12 and many more authentic and prestigious events from the world of Rugby. The game incorporates a completely upgraded graphical engine with individually differentiated players, realistic motion-captured player animations, dramatic lighting and cameras, and stadiums that are accurate with details such as crowd reactions, songs, and chants. EA SPORTS Rugby 2005 plays realistically with on-the-fly play-calling, right analog stick controls for fakes and crushing hits and improved kicking control. The game also features a "Rugby 101" training mode outlining the rules, controls, and tactics of the sport through videos and interactive challenges. [Electronic Arts]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: Rugby 2002 Rugby 2004
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: GameSpot Hands-On Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Australian GamePro
Clearly the best rugby title every made and a vast improvement on what was seen in the series' two previous outings. Sure there are still some frustrations and plenty of room for growth, but Rugby 2005 stands as a worthy virtual alternative to the stud-happy reality.
Read Full Review >Worth Playing
The tutorials are well worth the investment and the gameplay is solid, although it can still be tightened. The engine might be dated in look, but it runs smoothly, and a great deal of effort has gone into the code to model physics of the egg-shaped rugby ball.
Read Full Review >BBC Sport
Despite the fact that the developers still quite haven't managed to replicate the bounce of a rugby ball entirely satisfactorily, kicking now forms a vital part of the gameplay and every kick imaginable can be used to your advantage, including the good old 'Garry Owen' and grubber.
Read Full Review >GameZone
The problems are relatively minor, and time in the saddle playing the game will yield dividends in terms of guiding your chosen team toward championship after championship.
Read Full Review >IGN
In short, the game includes all the modes that rugby fans would want, with a ready-to-play engine that improves on everything that has previously been available in a rugby video game.
Read Full Review >Sydney Morning Herald
Player intelligence is improved, with more backline support reacting to the play. But defenders often leave holes and lack urgency near the line.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
Audio does a fine job, with some great commentary that never gets old, and is spot on accurate when calling the action on the pitch.
Read Full Review >PGNx Media
The commentary, though accurate, is repetitive and doesn’t induce you to pay attention. It just isn’t very interesting to hear the same lines over and over again.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
While the game serves as only an adequate primer to this tough-guy sport, it's a fairly approachable and fun game, and it's one that does a decent job of conveying the finer aspects of the sport it portrays.
Read Full Review >GamePro
Captures all the basics of this fast-paced game. The fun for a non-rugby fan will be in learning about the sport, and Rugby 2005 just might win a few converts.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
At the end of the day, rugby lovers will love how far this franchise has come since last year's version.
Read Full Review >PSM Magazine
The AI is easily duped and the coaching options are limited. EA still doesn't give this sport the "Madden" treatment, and it really shows. [Apr 2005, p.76]
G4 TV
There is a bit of difficulty with the camera, however--that being the lack of a universally useful view of the pitch. The default side camera is restrictive when it comes to all that punting, and more than once a bit of critical action took place out of view. That's fine for art films, but frustrating here.
Read Full Review >Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
Gives you an adequate adrenaline rush and provides a realistic experience (minus the bruises and broken bones, of course), but it lacks the polish of other EA Sports titles.
Read Full Review >TotalGames.net
The meat of the game is, for lack of a better term, utter garbage.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 9.1 (out of 10) based on 17 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Zac T. gave it a10:
I guess you have to know the rules of the game to want to buy or play, but this is the best sports game for any one who isn't into basketball, NHL or NFL and is great for aussie people cause we are the best in the world at this game.
Jonathan J. gave it a4:
WHAT A SHAME.... I've played rugby for 10 years, and played all the past rugby video games as well, and the only thing I can say is that rugby 2005 has better graphics. It still has as many flaws as in past rugby video games , like sometimes you can run through player like a ghost, what's up with that? they don't sanction a player after a late tackle, and the cameras they offer are not the best I've used, I'm disappointed, I thought this time EA sports was really gonna nail it this time. Come on EA sports, you can do much better than that. hope you pull it of next year with rugby 2006.
Muther F. gave it a7:
Game was good, bit patchy in areas, like the difficulty doesnt get harder, just more things go wrong to your team. Graphics good, maybe better tackling.
Nkolai s S. gave it an8:
It is a well balanced game , id like to be more breaking tackles though.
Lloyd G. gave it a10:
Awesome graphics and fun to play but hard controls.
K. A. gave it an8:
I agree that american reviewers seem to judge the sport and not the game. I'm quite new to rugby, but I find EA Sports' game very exciting.
Steve M. gave it a10:
Great fun. Absolutely streets ahead of 2004. Definitely a must buy for the rugby fan. Kicking is still a bit of an issue, but doesn't take away at all. Disregard the U.S reviews above - their reasoning is if it's not Madden, it's not good.
